Relay



March 19, 1929. A.J GURNEY 1,705,518

RELAY Filed May 19, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 47 5] 46 I I; I i i g6 27 Li I I l l I J nvenlfoz -JGu'rn y,

March 19, 1929. A. J. GURNEY RELAY 3 Sheets-Sheet wueutoz Filed May 19, 1926 I attozmus March 19, 1929. 'A. .1. GURNEY 1,705,518

RELAY Filed May 19, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 anvewtoz fluf Gil/77:7

222: f I a, attozmu l Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT J. GURNEY, F CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN MINE DOOR (30.,

OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATIONOF OHIO.

RELAY.

Application filed May 19, 1926. Serial No. 110,259.

This invention relates to an improved relay and while being well adapted for more or less general use is, nevertheless, particularly designed to be employed in connection with safety signalling systems for mines, electric railway systems, or the like, and seeks, among other objects, to provide a device comprising an assembly of simple pieces of apparatus but which shall be certain of operation in the desired manner under all cir cumstances and free from objectionable arcing at the contacts or overheating in the coils.

A further object of the invention isto provide an improved device embodying a primary switch for completing a circuit through either coil of the relay and wherein, when the relay switch is swung in either one direction or the other by reason of the energization of one of said coils, as the case may be, the primary switch will be automatically swung for breaking the circuit through the coil energized so that after the coil has functioned, no potential will exist across the terminals of said coils or can be unintentionally applied across said terminals to cause overheating of the coils. I

A further'object ofthe invention is to provide a device wherein, when one coil, for in stance, is energizedand the relay switch is swung in one direction, the primary switch will be swung to complete a circuit through the other coil, and vice versa, so that the latter coil "may be subsequently energized for swinging the relay switch in the opposte direction.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a device wherein a circuit will be closed through either coil but momentarily at any onetime so that the coils may be designed to have sufficient pull even at very low voltages. I

Other objects of the invention not spec1fically mentioned inthe foregoing will appear during the course of the following description.

. In the accompanying drawings: I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved relay, the door of the casing of the device being shown open.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. V

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direct1on indicated by the arrows.

I igure 4 is a. sectional vlew on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indi-;

cated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view particularly showing the switch blades.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit connections.

In carrying the invention into efiect, I employ a preferably metal casing or box 10 normally closed by a door 11, and mounted upon the side walls of the casing near the lower end thereof are insulators 12 through which suitable leads may be arranged to extend into the casing. Fixed to the bottom wall ofthe casing is a pair of spaced vertically disposed metal brackets 13 having base flanges 14 bolted or otherwise secured to said bottom wall, and formed on said brackets at their upper .ends, as particularly seen in Figure 2, are upstanding ears 1 1'. The brackets are widened toward the upper ends thereof, and projecting between the brackets are side flanges 15 to which are riveted or otherwise fixed a pair of angle plates 16. Mounted uponsaid angle plates are electro-magnets, indicated for convenience of description at 17 and 18, and bearing against the upper ends of the coils of said magnets are keeper plates 19 fixed to the angle plates 16. As will be observed, the magnets are tilted laterally,-

said yoke and through said cars is a pivot pin 21 pivotally connecting the yoke with the brackets. The yoke is preferably shaped from suitable resilient sheet metal, and fixed to the side members of the yoke near the inner ends thereof is a pair of transversely extending metal strips or arms 22 offset toward each other at opposite sides of the yoke. Fixed be-' tween the ends of said strips are armatures 23 and 24 disposed to cooperate with the magnets 17 and 18 respectively. Bolted or otherwise secured to the outer end of the yoke is an insulating block 25, and fixed to said .block is a flexible resilient switch blade, 26.

Near their outer ends the blade members are formed with oppositely bowed portions 28 which abut at the outer terminal of the blade and serve to space the outer end portions of the blade members apart so that the blade may readily flex.

Bolted or otherwise fixed to the .top wall of the casing is an insulating block 29, and mounted upon said block are spaced angle shaped contact holders 30 and 31 secured to the block, as seen in Figure 1, by terminals 32 and 33, the holders 30 and 31 being identical in construction. The base wings of the holders 30 and 31 are provided at their outer ends with lugs 34 which are received in suitable sockets inthe block 29 for locking the holders against rotation on the terminals 32 and 33, and extending from the depending wings of said holders are flanges 35. Yieldably gripped by said flanges are preferably ,car on contacts 36 and 37 confronting each other in parallel relation and, 'as will be observed, the switch blade 26 projects between said contactsfor cooperation at its free end therewith. The sides of the contacts are beveled while the corresponding flanges at the sides of the depending wings of the holders are inclined to coact' with the beveled sides of said contacts so that the contacts will be securely fixed upon the holders. However, by removing the holders from the block 29, the cont-acts may be readily slipped from be- .tween said flanges and removed, when new contacts may be substituted in lieu thereof.

Mounted upon the outer side'member of the yoke of the switch lever 20 is an arm 38 which is pivot'ally'connected with said side member by a rivet or other suitable fastening ear-.40 of thearm 38.- "As will now be seen, when a circuit is closed through the magnet 18,-the armature 24 will. beattracted by saidmagnet fer-rocking the switch lever 20 to the right, as seen in Figure *device 39 and projects upwardly beyond the yoke over the switch blade 26. At its .upper end, the arm is bent outwardly to form an ear 40 while near its lower end the arm is provided with a slot 41, and extending through said slot and through the outer side memberof the yoke is a bolt 42 securing the arm againstpivotal movement on the yoke. Extending through the bottom'wall of the casing 10 in a vertical plane with the pivot pin 21 of the switch lever is an anchoring device 43, and secured at one end to said anchoring device is a spring 44 having a straight elongatedend portion 45 engaged with the snap the switch blade against the contact 37, a

when the spring will function to prevent acci dental rocking movement of the switch lever away from the contact and hold the switch blade in engagement therewith. Similarly, as

the switch lever travels toward the left, the

' spring 44, will, as soon as the ear 40 of the arm 38 crosses the vertical plane of the pivot pin 21 of the switch lever, immediately function to Similarly,

accelerate the movement of the lever and snap g the switch blade into engagement with the contact 36, when the spring will serve to prevent accidental rocking, ,movement of the switch lever, away from said contact and hold the switch blade inengagement therewith. Thus, in effect, the spring 44 provides a means for yieldably locking the switch lever in eithen one position or the other when swung to close a circuit through the contact 36 or close a circuit through the contact 37, as the mase may be. Furthermore, as will beseen, the arm 38 may be adjustably swung on the pivot 39 and secured in adjusted position by the bolt 42 for varying the disposition of the free end of the arm relative to the pivot pin 21; of the switch lever,'so that, if desired, the spring may be caused to exert a greater lockmg pressure on the lever when swung in one 26 is "a conductor 48 electrically connecting,

the switch blade with said terminal. Agcordingly, when the switch lever is swung to-engage the switch blade with thecontact 36, a circuitv will be closed through the terminal 32, through said contact, and through the switch blade to the grounded terminal 47.

Similarly, when the switch blade is swung p to engage the contact 37, as shown in Figure 1, a circuit will be closed through the terminal through said contact, and through the switch blade to the grounded terminal 47.

Mounted to swing upon the insulating strip 46 is a primary switch blade 49 on the lower end portion of which are formed lateral ears 50, and extending through said ears is a pivot pin 51, the inner end of which is received in a suitable socket in the strip 46. Extending through the strip and through the inner end of said pin is a key 52 locking the pin against displacement, and attention is now directed to the fact that said pin is located in a verical plane with the pivot pin 21 of the switch lever 20 and with the anchoring device 43 of the spring 44. Formed in the switch blade 49 is an opening 53 and engaged at one end through said opening is a spring 54, the opposite end of which is anchored to a pin or other fastening device 55 sunk into the inner end of the insulating block 25 of the switch lever 20, as seen in Figure 3, medially of said block. Thus, the spring provides a yieldable connection between said switch lever 26 and the switch blade 49. Mounted upon the insulting block 29 for engagement by the switch blade 49, when swung in one direction, is a pair of resilient contact members 56, and mounted upon said block for engagement by the switch blade, when swung in the opposite direction,

. is a pair of similar resilient contact members 57. As best shown in Figure 3, these several contact members are all angle shaped, the free end portions thereof being bent to define upwardly presented spring tongues 58, and bracing said members are angle shaped reinforcing plates 59 provided at their outer ends with lugs 60 which are received in suitable sockets in the block 29 for locking the reinforcing plates against turning movement. Connecting the pair of contact members 56 with the block 29 are terminals 61 and 62, and I connecting the pair of contact members 57 with said block are terminals 63 and 64. These terminals are countersunk in the insulating block and extend through the contact members as well as through the reinforcing plates 59 for rigidly securing these parts to said block. As will be observed, the spring tongues 58 of the contact members are adapted to yield under the pressure of the switch blade 49 when engaged thereby and 'will accordingly compensate for any looseness which may develop in the mounting of the switch blade to always provide efiicient electrical contact between theswitch blade and sald contact members.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, I have shown the circuit connections employed within the casing as well as typical circuit connections which may be employed externally of the casing. Leading from the terminal 62 to one end of the coil of the magnet 18 is a wire 65 and leading from the other end of said coil to the terminal 47 is a wire 66, while a wire 67 is connected to the terminal 47' for elec-.

trically grounding the latter terminal.

'Leading from the terminal 64 to one end of the coil of the magnet 17 is a wire 68, and connecting the other end of said coil with the terminal 47 is a,: wire 69. As previously noted, the wire 48 connects the switch blade 26' with said terminal. Connected with the terminal 61 is a line circuit 70 in which is interposed a suitable switch or like device 71, and connected with the terminal 63 is a line circuit 72 in which is interposed a suitable switch or like device 73. In the pi csent instance, I have shown an annunciator circuit 74 connected with the terminal 32 and a similar annunciator circuit 75 connected with the 'terminal 33. 7

Assuming now that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, it will be seen that the annunciator circuit 75 is closed through the contact- 37, switch blade 26, conductor 48, and wire 67 so that the annunciator in the circuit 75 is energized. Furthermore, the line circuit 72 is closed across the terminals 63 and 64 by the engagement of the switch blade 49 with the contact members 57- Accordingly, when the switch 7 3 is closed, current will flow in the line circuit- 72 across said terminals through the switch blade 49 to the wire.68, thence through the coil of the magnet 17 and through the wire 69, and thence through the wire 67 to ground. Thus, the magnet 17 will, as previously described, be energized for rocking the switch lever 20 to the left, as seen in Figure 1, and moving the switch blade 26 into engagement with the contact member 36. The annunciator circuit 75 will therefore be broken while the annunciator circuit 74 will be closed. through the switch blade 26, the wire 48, and the wire 67 to ground, so that the annunciator in the circuit 74 is energized.

Attention is now directed to the fact that due to the yieldable connection provided by the spring 54 between the switch lever 20 and the switch blade 49, the switch blade 49 will, during the initial portion of the travel of the switch lever, remain closed in engagement with the contact members 57 so that the circuit through the magnet 17 will be maintained closed by the switch blade. Accordingly, said magnet will remain energized to effect the rocking movement of the switch lever until the switch lever has crossed the pivotal center thereof, the spring 54 stretching as the swinging movement of 'the switch lever progresses. However, after the pin 55 has crossed the vertical plane of the pivot pin 51 of the switch blade 49 to approach the end of its throw and the switch lever is being swung to the end of its movement by the spring'44, as previously described, the spring 54 will function to swing the switch blade 49 out of engagement with the contact members 57 and into engagement with the contact members 56 for breaking the circuit through the magnet 17 and closing a circuit across the contact members 56. Thus, as will be perceived, the circuit through the magnet 17 will 30 a r with the contact members 57, the parts funcswitch lever to complete thetravel thereof but will also provide the impetus for snapping the switch blade 49 out of engagement with one pair ofcontacts and into engagement with; v

rocked 1n elther one direction or the other the other pair of contacts.

Assuming the switch lever 20 and swltch blade 49 to be swung to the left, it will be seen that when the switch 71 is closed, current will flow in the circuit 7 0 across the terminals 61 and 62 through the switch blade 49, and thence through the wire 65, the magnet 18, the wire 66, and the wire 67 to ground. Accordingly, the magnet 18 will be energized for attracting the armature 24 and swinging the switch lever 20 to the right so that the switch blade 26 will be moved into engagement with the contact 37 for closing the annunciator circuit 75. During the initial portion of the travel of the switch lever, the switch blade 49 will remain in engagement with the contact member66 so that the'magnet 18 will remain energized until the switch lever has crossed the pivotal center thereof when, as the lever approaches the end of its throw andthe movea 44, the switch blade 49 will be swung by the' spring 54 out of engagement with the contact members 56 and snapped into engagement tioning in the same manner when the switch lever is swung'to the right as when the switch lever is swung to the-left, as previously described. 7

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A relay including spaced brackets, a switch lever including a yoke pivoted upon said brackets, arms carried by the yoke, armatures carried by said arms, electromagnets mounted upon the brackets tocooperate with blade and a sprin connection between the said armatures for swinging the, lever alternately in opposite directions, a switch blade carried by the lever, a switch contact mounted for engagement' by said blade, contact members 'electrically connected with said magnets, a pivoted switch blade movable to engage said contact members alternately and close a circuit through said magnets al; trnately, and a spring forming a connection between the lever and the pivoted blade for swinging the pivoted blade by the lever.

2. A relay including spaced brackets, a

switch lever including a yoke pivoted upon said brackets, arms carried by the yoke, armatures carried by said arms, electromagnets mounted upon the brackets to cooperate with said armatures for swinging the lever alternately in opposite directions, a switch blade carried by the lever, a switch contact mounted for engagement by said blade, .con-

tact members electrically connected with said i magnets,'a pivoted switch blade movable to engage said contact membersalternately and close a circuit through saidmagnets alternately, a spring forming a connection between the lever and the pivoted blade for swinging the pivoted blade by the lever, and a spring connected with the lever for swingsingthe lever to the end of its throw when members for closing a circuit through said magnets alternately, and a connection between the lever and the pivoted switch blade for swinging the pivoted blade by the lever. 4. Circuit closing means comprising a pivoted switch lever, a'spring' associated with the switch lever to automatically and positively move it in each direction after receiving an initial movementto carry it past a neutral or dead line, a switch blade, and a sprin connectionbetween the switch lever and the switch blade to throw the latter simultaneously with'the switch lever as it moves under the influence of the spring associated therewith.

5. Circuit closing means comprising a pivoted switch. lever, an arm carried by the switch lever and adjustable laterally with reference thereto, a spring connected to said arm'and exerting a pull thereon to throw the switch lever. when initially moved from a neutral position tothe right or left, a switch switch lever and t e switch blade to throw the latter simultaneously with the switch lever as it moves under the influence of the spring connected with the laterally adjust-- able arm.

. 6. Circuit closing means comprising a piv-,

switch lever and the switch blade to throw the latter simultaneously with the switch-lever as it moves under the influence of the spring connected with the laterally adjustable arm.

7. Circuit closing means comprising a. pivoted switch lever, a circuit closing blade carried by the switch lever and insulated-there from, .an arm adjustably connected with the switch-lever, a spring connection with the arm and exerting a pull thereon to throw the switch lever when initially moved to the right or left from a neutral position, electron'iagnets for initially moving the switch lever in each direction, a switch blade for controlling the circuits through the electromagnets, and a spring connection between the itch lever and the last mentioned switch blade to throw the latter sin'lultaneously with the switch lever as it moves under the influence of the 10 spring connected with the adjustable arm.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

ALBERT J. GURNE'Y. [1,. 8.] 

